Southern Illinois University
Missouri State University
Swim and Dive to face Missouri State on Saturday
11/07/2019 | 3:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
The Southern Illinois swimming and diving program will face off against conference rival Missouri State on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Springfield, Mo. Diving events at the Hammons Student Center Pool are set to begin at 10 a.m. CT, followed by swim events at 1 p.m. Live results can be tracked online on the Meet Mobile app.Â
THOUGHTS FROM COACH HANSON
On facing Missouri State…
We are going to put our best lineup forward that we have available. The women finished one spot ahead of us to win MVC's, while the men also finished one spot ahead for second place in the MAC last year. In terms of our traditional rival, this would be one of our top rivals. We have had three weeks to continue to train, get better, more fit and sharper. Being one week out from our midseason invite where we are going to shave down and go for season-bests, I am hoping and expecting for this to be our best dual-meet performance so far.Â
On having three-plus weeks away from competition to train…Â
It has been a good period of hard work. That hard work in swimming does not pay off immediately. But I think we have done a lot of good detail work, speed work, power work and strength work. As we progress in the season, all of that hard work will start to pay off.
On swimmers and divers pushing through mid-season fatigue…Â
That is part of the philosophy of giving them a short taper next week, so we can go for some season-bests at our invite next week. But it is the nature of our sport. You build up through the first semester and peek in November or December depending on your schedule. Then you do it again through the winter break to be ready for the conference and national meets. I know our team will be mentally ready and excited. It will be the first over-night trip of the season. We have bussed down and gone back home the same day for our other away meets so far. We will go up Friday evening after classes are out, so they will be mentally ready and as physically ready as we can expect to be at this point in the season come Saturday.Â
HISTORY AGAINST MISSOURI STATE
This Saturday will mark the ninth-straight season the two programs have competed in-season. Both the men's and women's team debuted against Missouri State in 1995. The two schools also compete in conference-championship action together, as the women's teams are in the Missouri Valley Conference and the men's teams are in the Mid-American Conference.Â
For the Saluki women, the series is tied 11-11. Missouri State has took three of the last five meetings and won last season's matchup over SIU, 158-85. Beibei Ji and Laura Carver combined to win three events in the defeat. SIU last came on top against the Bears in 2015, when they edged MSUÂ 121-110.Â
The men's team trails 8-13 in the series. MSU has won two-straight meetings, but SIU won the previous two in 2015 and 2016. Zheng Yang Yeap won the 200-yard freestyle and Kai Hoffmann-Dussome swept diving events in a 148-92 loss to the Bears last season.Â
SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE
The defending MVC Champion Lady Bears are 2-3 in dual-meet competition this season, with wins over South Dakota and Indiana State. Libby Howell and Ashley Yarbough have shined early on for MSU. The duo earned MVC Swimmer and Diver of the Week honors for their performances at the Indiana State Invitational in late October. Howell, a first-team All-MVC honoree the last two years, leads the conference in four freestyle events.Â
The men's team holds a 2-1 advantage in dual meets. They opened the season with wins over South Dakota and Indianapolis, but fell to Missouri in its most recent matchup. Swimmers Antonio Thomas and Arthur Cury each hold MAC-best times in a pair of events.Â
CONFERENCE RANKINGS
*Salukis in MAC top-fiveÂ
Adam CernekÂ
• 1st - 200-back (1:49.56)
• 2nd - 100-back (50.18)
• 4th - 400-IM (4:02.78)
Tamas HajtmanÂ
• 5th - 50-free (21.07)
Zheng Yang YeapÂ
• 5th - 200-free (1:41.87)Â
Kevin KlugeÂ
• 5th - 1,000-free (9:45.77)
*Salukis in MVC top-fiveÂ
Baobao Ji
• 1st - One-meter dive (319.35)
• 1st - Three-meter dive (326.40)
Beibei Ji
• 2nd - One-meter dive (298.65)
• 2nd - Three-meter dive (319.35)
Laura CarverÂ
• 3rd - 200-breast (2:22.11)
• 5th - 400-IM (4:32.05)
Sierra ForbordÂ
• 4th - 200-free (1:52.48)
Samantha ParsonsÂ
• 4th - 200-breast (2:22.78)
Eden GirloantaÂ
• 5th - 500-free (10:26.56)
LAST TIME OUT
Southern was last in action in a women's only tri-meet versus Illinois and Illinois State. The Salukis defeated the Redbirds, 187-113, and fell to the Fighting Illini, 123-176. In the split, SIU reeled in five victories and compiled 17 top-three finishes. Eden Girloanta led the team with first-place finishes in the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle. The wins were her fifth and sixth of the early season. Baobao Ji (One-meter dive), Sierra Forbord (100-yard freestyle) and Payton Parman (200-yard butterfly) clocked in winning times as well.
CONFERENCE HONORS
A trio of Salukis have earned weekly-conference honors three meets into the 2019-20 season. Baobao Ji tabbed her third-career MVC Diver of the Week accolade, as she won the one- and three-meter diving events at McKendree in the season-opener. Adam Cernek also excelled against the Bearcats, as he won three events en route to earning his first-ever MAC Swimmer of the Week. Laura Carver was named Valley Swimmer of the Week after tallying three wins in SIU's sweep over Bellarmine and Valparaiso.Â
10/8/19 - Baobao Ji - MVC Diver of the Week (3rd of career)
10/9/19 - Adam Cernek - MAC Swimmer of the Week (1st of career)
10/15/19 - Laura Carver - MVC Swimmer of the Week (1st of career)Â
A NEW ERA BEGINS
Geoff Hanson was named head coach of the Saluki swimming and diving program in late May, taking over for 32-year coaching veteran Rick Walker, who retired at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Hanson has over 19 years of collegiate coaching experience. He was an assistant coach at Arizona and Wisconsin and most recently had head coaching stints at Western State Colorado and Colorado Mesa. Hanson has mentored five Olympic finalists and four individual NCAA National Champions since joining the coaching ranks.Â
FOLLOW THE ACTION
For the latest updates on the Salukis against Missouri State, follow live results on the Meet Mobile app. Stay social for additional updates by following the team on Twitter @SIU_SwimDive, on Instagram @SIUSwimAndDive and on Facebook at Saluki Swimming and Diving.
Players Mentioned
